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dam-l [Fwd: FIAT/ALCAN DAM THREATENS BRAZILIAN COMMUNITY] (fwd)
Hello dam-l folks:
Passing this along FYI
Forwarded message:
> From grainne@nextcity.com Tue Sep 2 10:57:47 1997
> To: dianne@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca
> X-Sender: glen@pop.cba.nutecnet.com.br
> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 17:10:56 -0400
> From: glen@nutecnet.com.br (Glenn Switkes)
> Subject: FIAT/ALCAN DAM THREATENS BRAZILIAN COMMUNITY
> Dear Friends:
>
> We are sending you this general information regarding the proposed Pilar
> Dam in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in hopes that you may help us identify NGOs in
> Canada and Italy who might be willing to collaborate in a letter-writing
> campaign to the heads of Alcan and Fiat to express concern regarding this
> project.
>
> Our feeling is that action on the international level will elevate the
> profile of messages directed to local authorities in the region.
>
> We appreciate your suggestions.
>
> Best regards, Glenn Switkes
>
> -------------------------
>
> Pilar Hydroelectric Dam Alert (Brazil)
>
> FIAT and ALCAN have formed a consortium (75 and 25%, respectively)
> and proposed construction of a large hydroelectric dam - UHE Pilar - on the
> Piranga River, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, approximately 380 km. north
> of Rio de Janeiro. At a public hearing requested by the environmental NGO,
> ASPARPI, and held on May 16, 1997, in the city of Ponte Nova, with the
> presence of nearly 500 people, major environmental and social impacts of
> this project were highly criticized by representatives of the 133 families
> who are directly affected, local private and public agencies and
> researchers of the Federal University of Vi=E7osa. The Environmental Impact
> Study (EIA) and statements in opposition and support of this project are
> now under review by technical staff of the state government's Environmental
> Agency - FEAM - which will soon make its recommendation to the State
> Environmental Policy Council - COPAM, which decides whether or not to
> accept the EIA and grant the crucial Preliminary License (LP).
>
> ASPARPI and the local association of people affected by Pilar -
> ACMAP - as well as a group of university researchers and many other local
> groups - have recommended disapproval of the EIA. However FIAT and ALCAN
> have enormous economic and political lobbying influence at the State and
> =46ederal government levels in Brazil, in the context of the neoliberal
> policy of privatization of the electric sector. We desperately need your
> support to help us convince State government officials that UHE Pilar is a
> destructive dam project with major negative environmental and social
> impacts and, therefore, that the LP should be denied.
>
> Pilar would be a large dam, with a height of 67 m and a lake 28 km
> long, holding approximately 344 million liters of water. The dam would be
> located only 13 km from the city of Ponte Nova (population of more than
> 60,000 inhabitants) and at a height 96 m above that of the city's main
> Catholic church, thus causing permanent anxiety of the population
> concerning the risk of rupture and deluge. The dam's installed capacity
> would be up to 170 MW.
>
> The environmental impacts would be severe. The EIA underestimates
> the intensity of the changes in the characteristics of the water in the
> lake and in the Piranga River during the period of lake formation, as well
> as the effects of a very sharp reduction in the rate of flow and water
> level of the Piranga River, source of water of the city of Ponte Nova,
> local riverine populations and the Rio Doce forest reserve. During the 40
> days of lake formation, when the rate of flow should be 20 m3 per second,
> equivalent to 20 % of average rate of flow, 20 km. of the river would have
> a rate of flow of merely 5 m3 per second, which corresponds to 5 % of
> average rate of flow, causing very sharp fluctuations in the water level on
> a daily basis. A similar effect would occur during the period following
> lake formation, as well as during dam operation, as a result of the
> "modulation" system used by hydroelectric dams in Brazil.
>
> The rare and nearly extinct surubi of the rio Doce, whose
> adaptation to the area to be transformed into a lake remains a mystery,
> would disappear, as would most ictiofauna downstream.
>
> During the dam's operation, the natural increase in sewage received
> by the Piranga River, combined with a rate of flow which would be sharply
> reduced to 5 m3/sec. in the dry season, would severely aggravate the
> river's pollution and contamination. The risk of increased incidence of
> schistossomose - endemic in the region - and other water-borne diseases
> would be great.
>
> The environmental and social impacts in the rural area would also
> be severe. The EIA provides an extremely inaccurate profile of the family
> agriculture practiced by the 133 families who would be dispossessed,
> underestimating agricultural production, productivity and market
> integration and, therefore erroneously concluding that individual and
> regional socioeconomic impacts would be minimal. In fact, despite the hilly
> terrain, 40 % of available land is suited for agriculture - well above the
> level of the Zona da Mata region as a whole - and the fertile riverine
> wetlands farmed by these families have provided favorable food consumption
> and nutritional levels. Thus, dispossession would be extremely prejudicial
> to this family farming system, as well as seriously disruptive of the the
> social fabric, characterized by generations of close family ties and rich
> cultural traditions.
>
> Finally, the vague proposals for resettlement of property owners
> and compensation for sharecroppers and other non-owners were prepared
> without adequate participation of the oustee population, do not provide
> conditions for the reconstruction of the social and productive systems of
> the affected families and would likely contribute to rural-urban migration,
> thus increasing the number of the landless and compounding urban social and
> economic problems in the region. The uncertainty about their future has
> already caused a great deal of anxiety among the affected families, who are
> well aware of the recent suicide of an oustee of another dam project in the
> region, following negotiations after LP approval.
>
> In the light of these serious environmental and social impacts
> which would be caused by the Pilar Dam, we urge you to take immediate
> action, by contacting Brazilian State government officials (see addresses
> below) and urging them to disapprove the EIA, deny the Preliminary License
> (LP) and discourage the ALCAN-FIAT consortium from pursuing this or future
> proposals to build the dam at this site.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Jos=E9 Roberto Fontes Castro, President
> ASPARPI (Associa=E7=E3o dos Pescadores e Amigos do Rio Piranga)
>
>
> Geraldo Pinto Moreira, President
> ACMAP (Associa=E7=E3o Comunit=E1ria dos Moradores Atingidos por Pilar)
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Send FAX messages or telegrams to:
> Jos=E9 Carlos Carvalho
> Presidente do COPAM e Secret=E1rio de Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Susten=
> t=E1vel
> Av. Prudente de Morais, 1671
> 30.380-000 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
> =46AX: (031) 344-0246; Telefax: (031) 342-1265
> and
>
> Presidente da C=E2mara de Bacias Hidrogr=E1ficas
> COPAM
> Governo do Estado de Minas Gerais
> a/c FEAM
> Av. Prudente de Morais, 1671
> 30.380-000 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
> =46AX: (031) 344-0246; Telefax: (031) 342-1265
>
> Send a copy of these messages, as well as letters or other messages
> expressing solidarity with ASPARPI and/or ACMAP, to:
> Jos=E9 Roberto Fontes Castro, President
> ASPARPI
> Caixa Postal 09
> Ponte Nova, MG
> 35430-000 - Brasil
> Telefax: (031) 817-3046
>
>
> =0CUsina Hidrel=E9trica Pilar: Grito de Alerta
>
> As empresas FIAT e ALCAN formaram um cons=F3rcio (75 e 25%,
> respectivamente) e solicitaram licenciamento ambiental para a constru=E7=E3o=
> de
> uma grande usina hidrel=E9trica - UHE Pilar, no rio Piranga, no Estado de
> Minas Gerais, Brasil, localizada aproximadamente 380 km ao norte do Rio de
> Janeiro. A ONG ambientalista ASPARPI solicitou audi=EAncia p=FAblica, a qual
> foi realizada no dia 16 de maio passado, na cidade de Ponte Nova, com a
> presen=E7a de quase 500 pessoas. Na ocasi=E3o, foram denunciados diversos
> impactos s=F3cio-ambientais negativos pelos representativos dos 133 fam=EDli=
> as
> diretamente afetadas, entidades privadas e p=FAblicas locais e pesquisadores
> da Universidade Federal de Vi=E7osa. O Estudo de Impacto Ambiental (EIA) e
> declara=E7=F5es e pareceres t=E9cnicos a favor e contra o projeto est=E3o se=
> ndo
> analisados pelos t=E9cnicos da Ag=EAncia Estadual de Meio Ambiente - FEAM - =
> a
> qual em breve vai repassar suas recomenda=E7=F5es para o Conselho Estadual d=
> e
> Pol=EDtica Ambiental - COPAM - a qual tomar=E1 a decis=E3o a respeito da
> aprova=E7=E3o ou n=E3o do EIA e a concess=E3o da Licen=E7a Pr=E9via (LP).
>
> ASPARPI e ACMAP - a associa=E7=E3o local de pessoas atingidas pela =
> UHE
> Pilar - bem como outros grupos locais e pesquisadores universit=E1rios - t=
> =EAm
> recomendado o indeferimento do EIA. No entanto, a FIAT e a ALCAN possuem
> grande influ=EAncia econ=F4mica e pol=EDtica nos Governos Estadual e=
> Federal, no
> contexto das pol=EDticas neoliberais, como a privatiza=E7=E3o do setor el=E9=
> trico.
> Sendo assim, precisamos desesperadamente de seu apoio para nos ajudar a
> convencer os oficiais do governo de que a UHE Pilar trata de uma
> hidrel=E9trica destrutiva, tendo grandes impactos s=F3cio-ambientais negativ=
> os
> e que, portanto, n=E3o dever=E1 ser concedida a LP.
>
> Pilar seria uma grande barragem, com altura de 67 m. O lago da
> barragem ter=E1 28 km de extens=E3o, num n=EDvel de 96 metros acima da
> igreja-matriz, armazenando 344 milh=F5es de litros d'=E1gua. A proximidade
> dessa montanha d'=E1gua a apenas 13 km da cidade de Ponte Nova significa
> intranq=FCilidade permanente para a popula=E7=E3o de mais de 60.000=
> habitantes. A
> capacidade instalada de gera=E7=E3o de energia el=E9trica seria de at=E9 170=
> MW.
>
> Os impactos ambientais seriam s=E9rias. O EIA subestima a intensidad=
> e
> das altera=E7=F5es nas caracter=EDsticas da =E1gua do reservat=F3rio e do=
> rio Piranga
> durante o per=EDodo de forma=E7=E3o do lago, bem como os efeitos de uma redu=
> =E7=E3o
> acentuada na vaz=E3o e do n=EDvel d'=E1gua do rio Piranga, manancial da=
> cidade de
> Ponte Nova, de povos ribeirinhos e do parque florestal do rio Doce, j=E1 com
> nome de rio Doce. Principalmente nos 40 dias previsto para o enchimento do
> reservat=F3rio, quando a vaz=E3o dever=E1 ser de 20 m3 por segundo, igual a =
> 20%
> da m=E9dia, e p=F3s-enchimento, 20 km. do rio passaria a ter a vaz=E3o de 5 =
> m3
> por segundo, o que corresponde a 5% da vaz=E3o m=E9dia, e durante o
> funcionamento da usina, pelo sistema de "modula=E7=E3o" praticado pelas UHEs=
> no
> Brasil, oscilando dr=E1stica e diaramente o n=EDvel do rio.
>
> No caso do rio Piranga, a oscila=E7=E3o promovida pela UHE Brecha (d=
> e
> 18 MW), da propriedade da ALCAN, participante do Cons=F3rcio Pilar, chega a
> um metro por dia, destruindo as esp=E9cies aqu=E1ticos, impedindo sua
> reprodu=E7=E3o.
>
> Sobre a irregularidade de vaz=E3o, existe documento de um engenheiro
> de muita experi=EAncia e conhecimento do assunto, protocolado na FEAM ap=F3s
> audi=EAncia p=FAblica realizada na cidade de Ponte Nova.
>
> O mist=E9rio da adapta=E7=E3o do raro e quase extinto surubi do rio =
> Doce
> ao local onde pretendem transformar em lago, n=E3o foi esclarecido no EIA.
> Com a constru=E7=E3o da barragem, essa esp=E9cie dever=E1 desaparecer, perma=
> necendo
> esse mist=E9rio sem explica=E7=E3o cient=EDfica. Muita da ictiofauna a jusan=
> te
> dever=E1 desaparecer tamb=E9m.
>
> No per=EDodo da opera=E7=E3o da barragem, o problema da polui=E7=E3o=
> e
> contamina=E7=E3o do rio Piranga seria agravado, devido =E0 redu=E7=E3o de=
> vaz=F5es e ao
> lan=E7amento crescente de efluentes. Os riscos de aumento de incid=EAncia de
> doen=E7as de veicula=E7=E3o h=EDdrica, numa regi=E3o sabidamente end=EAmica=
> para a
> esquistossomose, seriam muito grandes.
>
> Os impactos s=F3cio-ambientais no meio rural seriam s=E9rias tamb=E9=
> m. O
> EIA desvaloriza as propriedades das 133 fam=EDlias que ser=E3o os atingidos=
> e a
> agricultura familiar na regi=E3o, subestima a produ=E7=E3o agropecu=E1ria, a
> produtividade m=E9dia e a quantidade e o valor comercializado e, portanto,
> conclui, erroneamente, que a perda das terras teria pouco impacto negativo
> sobre a economia familiar e sobre a economia regional. De fato, apesar de a
> Zona da Mata ser uma regi=E3o muita declivosa, na =E1rea atingida h=E1 maior
> ocorr=EAncia de v=E1rzea e a fertilidade do solo e o bom padr=E3o de aliment=
> a=E7=E3o
> e nutri=E7=E3o da popula=E7=E3o atingida s=E3o ind=EDcios que as perdas de=
> produ=E7=E3o, de
> renda e do n=EDvel de vida dessas fam=EDlias que vivem da agricultura famili=
> ar,
> seriam grandes e irrevers=EDveis. Al=E9m do mais, a expropria=E7=E3o das fam=
> =EDlias
> atingidas provocar=E1 ruptura na vida e na organiza=E7=E3o social da comunid=
> ade,
> caracterizada por gera=E7=F5es de la=E7os de parentesco e ricas tradi=E7=F5e=
> s
> culturais.
>
> Em fim, as propostas vagas no EIA quanto ao reassentamento dos
> propriet=E1rios e =E0 compensa=E7=E3o para meeiros e outras categorias de n=
> =E3o
> propriet=E1rios, foram elaboradas sem a participa=E7=E3o efetiva da popula=
> =E7=E3o
> atingida, n=E3o oferecem a perspectiva de que o reassentamento conseguir=E1
> reconstruir a vida social e produtiva da popula=E7=E3o atingida nos n=EDveis
> atuais e contribuiriam para o =EAxodo rural e o aumento do n=FAmero dos
> trabalhadores sem terra, assim agravando os problemas s=F3cio-econ=F4micos d=
> as
> cidades da regi=E3o. As incertezas e a ansiedade j=E1 provocam muita ang=FAs=
> tia
> entre as fam=EDlias atingidas, preocupa=E7=E3o essa que tornou dram=E1tica=
> com a
> ocorr=EAncia recente do suic=EDdio de um atingido de outro projeto de barrag=
> em
> na regi=E3o, ap=F3s as press=F5es das negocia=E7=F5es com a empresa.
>
> Tendo em vista a perspectiva desses impactos s=F3cio-ambientais
> negativos que seriam provocados pela obra da UHE Pilar, pedimos que voc=EAs
> comuniquem imediatamente com as autoridades p=FAblicas respons=E1veis (veja
> endere=E7os abaixo), recomendando o indeferimento do EIA, a n=E3o concess=E3=
> o da
> Licen=E7a Previa (LP) e desincentivando o cons=F3rcio ALCAN-FIAT em prossegu=
> ir
> com o projeto da UHE Pilar.
>
>
>
>
> Cordialmente,
>
>
> Jos=E9 Roberto Fontes Castro, Presidente
> ASPARPI (Associa=E7=E3o dos Pescadores e Amigos do Rio Piranga)
>
> Geraldo Pinto Moreira, Presidente
> ACMAP (Associa=E7=E3o Comunit=E1ria dos Moradores Atingidos por Pilar)
>
>
>
>
> Enviem mensagens via FAX ou telegramas para:
> Jos=E9 Carlos Carvalho
> Presidente do COPAM e Secret=E1rio de Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Susten=
> t=E1vel
> Governo do Estado de Minas Gerais
> Av. Prudente de Morais, 1671
> 30.380-000 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
> =46AX: (031) 344-0246; Telefax: (031) 342-1265
> e
>
> Presidente da C=E2mara de Bacias Hidrogr=E1ficas
> COPAM
> Governo do Estado de Minas Gerais
> a/c FEAM
> Av. Prudente de Morais, 1671
> 30.380-000 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil
> =46AX: (031) 344-0246; Telefax: (031) 342-1265
>
> Enviem uma c=F3pia dessas mensagens, bem como cartas ou outras mensagens de
> solidariedade, para:
> Jos=E9 Roberto Fontes Castro, Presidente
> ASPARPI
> Caixa Postal 09
> Ponte Nova, MG
> 35430-000 - Brasil
> Telefax: (031) 817-3046
>
>
>
>
> =3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=
> =3D*=3D*
> Glenn Switkes, Director, Latin America Program,
> International Rivers Network
> 1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703-1576, USA
> Tel. (510) 848 1155 Fax (510) 848 1008
> http://www.irn.org
>
> South America:
> Tel/Fax: +55 65 627 1689
> =3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=
> =3D*=3D*
>
>
>
>